Car Chronicles

My lovely little Honda Civic Coupe- light gray, stick shift, quick, fun to drive- was stolen about 3.5 years ago now, after only having it about 4 months. Do I have a replacement car yet? Uh, no. Usually every few months I gear myself up for car shopping, but quickly find 'good' reasons to put it off.

Mom and Dad have been kind enough to let me use the Geo since then, affectionately called Brodie, pop-can, or Geo-Decahedron. This bad-boy will turn 20 years old next year! He's leaving his teen years, never to return. Though, if you think about it, he's really quite elderly... kind of like dog years in cars! We would have lost him years ago without my brother Stephen's buddy Funk (aka Funkinator.) He is a guru-mechanic! He knows Geo inside and out by now, and has kept it running. Somehow I managed to lose the oil-filler cap recently and he ordered a replacement one... the last cap that fits my engine in the country (or at least very close to it!) He warned me not to lose it. He also said I have about 5 more years before they start just crushing and recycling all cars of the 1989 era, instead of keeping them around in junk-yards for parts. I feel comfortable with 5 years. Last time I was as the Chevy repair, he said probably 3 more years tops for ol' Geo- but he doesn't know the Funkinator.

These days, I almost can't bear to let Geo go, at about 40 miles per gallon- how could I?! Though, I just might be able to sell him for tons of cash to some chump who commutes 60 miles a day (oh yeah, that's me!!) Well, I've taken the environmentally responsible route of The Vanpool. I used to take it 3 days, then four, now I try to take it everyday. I can't afford to pay $7 a day in gas to get to and from work. Craziness.

An alternate idea? The Smart Car. A favorite in Europe for many years, it's finally coming across the pond. My boss just got his two weeks ago, after being on a 6-month waiting list. The list is up to two years now. But I got to take a ride in it yesterday, and it was very comfy, with a lot of leg room- who knew?

I still want a car where I can take my nephews on adventures (the Geo has been banned as a nephew-mobile... probably for good reason.) Patricia says something like this... "You know when you've arrived when your car has four doors, a working defroster, A/C, and side-view mirrors on BOTH sides of the car." Nope, not there yet.

My front runner for when I do get brave enough to buy a new car is the Mazda 3. Fairly good gas mileage, top ratings from Consumer Reports and with all T's requirements. Now if I can just talk myself into it- long live Geo!!